About Agri Tourism

The state of Maharashtra is the pioneer state to develop and promote Agri Tourism in the
country. AGRI TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION incorporated in 2005 and owns
the pilot Agri tourism project of 28 acres in Palshiwadi, tal Baramati Dist Pune, 70 kms from
Pune city. The main activities include operating its Agri tourism centre along with encouraging
more farmers to take up Agri tourism, conducting training and research programs. This is an
umbrella platform wherein most of the tourist reservations are booked and then tourists are sent
to different centres. This saves on the marketing cost of the farmers. They may themselves also
take the bookings. ATDC only provides a helping hand. ATDC the umbrella organization for the
Agri Tourism, practices what is preached, by successfully operating its owned pilot Agri tourism
project.

In 2007, ATDC launched Training and skills development programs with Maharashtra State Agri
Tourism Vistar Yojana, first 52 farmers were selected in Maharashtra and the story continues
This Agri Tourism model has been replicated in 328 Agri tourism centres across 30 Districts in
Maharashtra, which has helped to conserve, enhance the village environment, village traditions
and culture, customs, village arts and handicrafts. Agri tourism model gives the authentic
experiences to the visitors by showcasing village culture, agriculture, traditions that has helped
gain sustainable supplementary income source and generated local employment.

The concept of Agri tourism is very simple, whereby the urban tourists go the farmers home;
stay like a farmer, engage in farming activities, experience the bullock cart, tractor ride, fly kites,
eat authentic food, wear traditional clothes, understand the local culture, enjoy the folk songs and
dance, buy fresh farm produce and in turn the farmer maintains home and farm hygiene, greets
new tourists, sells his farm produce at a better price, earns a livelihood all year round.

The ATDC survey in 2014 , 2015 , 2016 shows that 0.40 million, 0.53million ,0.7 million
tourists have visited these centers respectively totally generating 35.79 million Indian rupees to
farmer’s family, generated jobs to women and youth in the rural communities.

This created a win win situation for not only the farmers or the tourists but also for the
Government.Not only was the farmer happy to stay in the farm and the tourist satisfied to buy
farm fresh produce, but the Government accepted us with open arms as Agriculture Tourism was
given a major boost in Maharashtra Tourism Policy 2016.

ATDC Pvt Ltd (Agri Tourism India) Project’s OBJECTIVES are

1. To develop and promote agricultural tourism (Agri-tourism),through ATDC’s projects,

training and support as a potential vehicle for diversifying and stabilizing rural
economies.
2. Creating jobs, increasing farming community income, providing a broader market base,
opportunities for on-farm employment so they do not have to migrate to urban areas.
3. Agri Tourism income to improve their livelihoods, traditional forms of art and music in
rural areas 4.Increasing awareness of local agricultural products, enhancing
 understanding of the importance of maintaining agricultural lands there by strengthening
the long term sustainability of small farms.

Following partners have encouraged ATDC in developing Agri Tourism

1. Tourism Policy 2016 initiative that has included Agri Tourism as the major focus area to
help small farmers – Tourism Department – Government of Maharashtra. One important
policy decision taken is the “compulsory educational tour to Agri tourism centres” for
fifth to tenth standard school students.
2. Marketing and Promoting Agri tourism under “MAHABHRAMAN SCHEME” –
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation
3. Helping small farmers getting financial support through banks to develop Agri tourism
centres – NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) this apex
bank in rural development in India,

Some of the successful agri tourism stories

1. Baramati Agri Tourism Center Palshiwadi – owner ATDC- Pune district

2. Anand Krushi Paryatan Kendra – owner – Anandrao Shinde – Satara District
3. Abhishek Krushi Parytan Kendra – Owner – Raju Bhandarkavtekar – Solapur
District
4. Bhumi Agri Tourism Center – Owner Ghanshyam Jogdand – Washim District
5. Dirgayu Agri Tourism Center – owner Kotkar Pravin – Thane District
6. Ekant Agri Tourism Center – owner – Ruturaj Ingale – Kolhapur District
7. Bhorkar Agri Tourism Center – owner Premchand Bhorkar – Latur District
8. Sapttparni Agri Tourism center – owner Avinash Bhake – Nagpur Distrcit
9. Jai Shree KRISHNA Agri Tourism Center – Anuradha Patil – Nandurbar Distrcit
10. Drum Stick Agri Tourism Center – Uday Chanddorkar –Nashik District

Information
Resources
An effective Agritourism Resource Centre provides leadership in the development and
distribution needed to support the development of competitive agritourism products and
services. This information should relate to specific planning, development, and management
issues deemed to be particularly important to key stakeholders. An important role of the
Centre(s) should be to actively work with its partners to establish these priorities. Research
suggests that such information needs relate to several recurring themes. These include:

• understanding agritourist markets and their behaviours

• assessing agritourism’s fit with current farming operations
• improving farm revenue streams;
• dealing with government policies;
• addressing financial considerations;
• establishing effective marketing programs;
• developing customer friendly service programs;
• creating responsive risk management programs;
• establishing credible product and service quality standards;
 • building strategic partnerships; and
• managing niche agritourism product development opportunities.

Scope for

Agri

Tourism
Agri Tourism has great scope in the present context for the following reasons.

An inexpensive gateway:- The cost of food, accommodation, recreation and travel

1.
is minimum in Agri-
Tourism. This widens the tourist base. Present concept of travel and tourism is
limited to urban and rich class which constitute only small portion of the
population. However, the concept of Agri-tourism takes travel and tourism to the
larger population, widening the scope of tourism due to its cost effectiveness.
Curiosity about the farming industry and life style:- The urban population basically
2.
which has roots in
villages always has curiosity about sources of food, plants, animals, raw materials
like wood, handicrafts, languages, culture, tradition, dresses and lifestyle. Agri-
tourism which revolves around the farmers, villages and agriculture has the
capacity to satisfy the curiosity of this segment of population. Agri-tourism
provides scope for re-discoursing the rural life which is rich in diversity.
Strong demand for wholesome family oriented recreational activities:– villages
3.
provide recreational
opportunities to all age groups i.e. children young, middle and old age, male,
female, in total to the whole family at cheaper cost. Rural games, festivals, food,
dress and the nature provides variety of entertainment to the whole family.
Health consciousness of urban population and finding solace with nature friendly
4.
means:– Modern
lifestyle has made the life stressful and average life span has comedown. Hence,
people are in constant search of pro-nature means to make life more peaceful.
Ayerveda which is pro-nature medical approach has roots in villages. Indigenous
medical knowledge of villagers is respected. Organic foods are in greater demand
in urban areas and foreign countries. In total, health conscious urban population is
looking towards pro-nature villages for solutions.
Desire for peace and tranquility:- Modern life is the product of diversified thinking
5.
and diversified
activities. Every individual attempts to work more, in different directions to earn
more money to enjoy modern comforts. Hence, peace is always out of his system.
Tourism is the means for searching peaceful location. Peace and tranquility are
inbuilt in Agri-tourism as it is away from urban areas and close to nature.
Interest in natural environment:- Busy urban population is leaning towards nature.
6.
Because, natural
environment is always away from busy life. Birds, animals, crops, mountains,
water bodies, villages provide totally different atmosphere to urban population in
 which they can forget their busy urban life.
Disillusionment with over crowded resorts and cities:- In resorts and cities, over
7.
crowded peace seekers
disturb each others peace. Hence, peace is beyond cities and resorts. Even though
efforts are made to create village atmosphere in the sub urban areas through
resorts, farm houses, it looks like a donkey painted with tiger colour. Artificiality is
highlighted and not satisfying.
Nostalgia for their roots on the farm:– Cities are growing at the cost of villages.
8.
Villagers are migrating
to cities in search of jobs and seeking comforts of modern life. Hence, yesterday’s
villagers are today’s urbanites. Deep in the heart of urbanites lies the love and
respect for their ancestors and villages. Hence, visit to villages satisfies their
desire. This is also expressed through the hatredness of urbanites to flat culture and
love for farmhouses located in the outskirts of cities. Any opportunity to visit
villages and spend time with family is dream of any urbanite. But, minimum
decent facilities are always problem. Agri-tourism attempts to overcome this
problem.
Rural recreation:– Villages provide varieties of recreation to urbanites through
9.
festivals and handicrafts.
Villagers (farmers) lifestyle, dress, languages, culture/traditions which always add
value to the entertainment. Agriculture environment around farmers and the entire
production process could create curiosity among urban taught. Places of agriculture
importance like highest crop yielding farm, highest animal yielding farm,
processing units, farms where innovations tried add attraction to the tourists.
Agriculture products like farm gate fresh market, processed foods, organic food
could lure the urban tourists. As result of this Agri-atmosphere in the villages,
there is scope to develop Agri-tourism products like Agri-shopping, culinary
tourism, pick and own your tree/plot, bed and breakfast, bullock cart riding, camel
riding, boating, fishing, herbal walk, rural games and health (Ayurvedic) tourism.
Educational value of Agri-Tourism:- Agri-tourism could create awareness about
10.
rural life and knowledge
about agriculture science among urban school childrens. It provides a best
alternative for school picnics which are urban based. It provides opportunity for
hands on experience for urban college students in Agriculture. It is a means for
providing training to future farmers. It would be effectively used as educational
and training tool to train agriculture and line department officers. This provides
unique opportunity for education through recreation where learning is fun effective
and easy. Seeing is believing, doing is learning and most importantly experiences
are USP of Agri-tourism

Have something for visitors to see:- Animals, birds, farms and nature are the few things which
1.
Agri-
tourism could offer to the tourist to see. Apart from these, culture, dress, festivals and rural
games could create enough interest among forest in Agri-tourism.
 Have something for visitors to do:- Participating in agricultural operations and swimming,
2.
bullock cart
riding, camel riding, buffalo riding, cooking and participating in the rural games are the few
activities to quote in which tourist can take part and enjoy.

Have something for visitors to buy:- Rural crafts, dress materials, farm gate fresh agriculture
3.
products,
processed foods are the few items which tourist can buy as memento for remembrance.

Entertainment in Agri Tourism

Agri-tourism offers the tourist many joyful experiences while living in rural environment. Agri-
tourist involvement in milching, harvesting competitions, tree climbing, edible adventure,
bullock cart race, buffalo race in wet fields namely Kambala in Karnataka, shooting a coconut
target, fishing etc. could generate enormous joy atleast cost. There is enough scope to charge
entry fee to farmers, providing feed and accommodation on payment basis and charging the
participation of Agri-tourist during rural games would also generate income to the farmers.
Some successful entertainment farming enterprises and techniques in Agri-tourism -
International experiences.
Agri-tourism is a viable income generating activities in many developed counties which would
provide lead to promote the same with modifications suiting to our conditions. They are:

• Arts & Crafts Demonstrations.

•Farm Store : Exhibition of farm equipments
•Roadside Stand selling fresh farm products and craft items
•Processing of farm products and sale
•Demonstration of Agri-activities
•Sheep Shearing.
•Wool Processing.
•Fee fishing / hunting.
•Farm Vacations.
•Bed and Breakfast
•Farm Tours.
•Horseback Riding.
•Camping.
•Bad weather - like desert, snow fields, heavy rainfall also attract Agri-tourists
•Picnic Grounds.
•A shady spot for visitors to rest – like a big baniyan tree
•Educational Tours for school children, officers and progressive farmers
•Farm Schools to teach a particular skill
•Outdoor Schools which are mobile in nature teaching agriculture
•Herb Walks.
•Workshops on interesting, emerging agriculture topics
•Festivals with wide publicity and sponsorship
•Cooking Demos to satisfy housewives.
•Pick-Your-own Pumpkin Patch.
•Rent –an – apple tree.
•Moonlight activities.
•Pageants.
•Speakers who can attract Agro-tourist narrating Agricultural experiences.
•Regional Themes like tribal coffee of Kerala, Andaman spices etc
•Crop Art.
•Pizza Farm.
•Historical Recreations like highlighting a oldest farm etc.
•Log Buildings.
•Antique Villages.
•Collection of old farm Machinery.
•Miniature Village.
•Farm Theme Playground for Children.
•Fantasyland.
•Gift Shop.
•Antiques.
•Crafts.
•Crafts Demonstrations.
•Food Sales.
•Lunch Counter.
•Cold Drinks.
•Restaurant.
•Theme

Important Factors for Agri Tourism

There are various important factors which contribute to the success of Agri Tourism.

Farmer : Majority of the cases, farmer is less educated, less exposed and innocent. For farmer,
1.
any
outsider is a guest and treated wholeheartedly without any commercial motive. Treating guest
is pleasure for them than pain. He entertains the guest while entertaining himself in the
process. He is not like an exploitative natured businessman which itself facilitate a clean
tourism atmosphere.

Village : Village, which is located far from the city lacks urban facilities, but blessed with
2.
natural
resources. The investment is made by nature in the form of water bodies, fields, forest,
mountains, deserts and islands. Community is more homogenous and treating a guest is part
of their culture rather than a profession leading to natural environment required for urban
tourist.

Agriculture : Rich resources in agriculture namely land, water and plants are unique from
3.
place to place
bringing diversity and creating curiosity. Each field is unique which adds to the attraction of
tourists. The way of cultivation and the products are great attraction to the urban population.
Indigenous knowledge of rural people is a wealth, which adds to novelty and curiosity of
urban population. Combination of farmer, village and agriculture create a wonderful situation
which provides unlimited satisfaction to the tourist specially from urban areas.

AGRI TOURISM INDIA - BARAMATI AGRI &

RURAL TOURISM TRAINING , RESEARCH &
DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Agri Tourism India - Baramati Agri & Rural Tourism Training , Research & Development Center
Palshiwadi , Baramati

Agri Tourism India works with local community .

Agri Tourism India has planted more than 2500 trees of 123 species that will help to attract the
birds , and animals this will help to restore the barren land the plantation is irrigated through drip
irrigation so as to use the water resource responsibly
India’s mainly a country of agriculture , it has the longest history of doing and practicing
agriculture also majority of the landholders in India are small and marginal, but Due to various
reasons like rain deficit ,increase in farm input costs, uncertain market conditions ,day by day it
has become very difficult for majority of small and marginal farmers in India to do sustainable
farming, finding from the recent survey of department of agriculture government of India
concluded that 40% of the small and marginal farmers wants to stop doing agriculture and look
out for some other livelihood options, hence next generation of the farmer families are migrating
to urban cities in search of employment , by developing the concepts like agriculture tourism or
agri tourism in their villages , the farmers and their families have found new avenue to generate
supplementary, sustainable income and employment , 33% of the income is increased by the way
of agri tourism hence with this new form of sustainable income source migration will be lessen
and it is helping to preserve the agriculture heritage
we appoint 100% staff members from local village , they may not have some knowledge of
hospitality and tourism , we train them with the technical knowledge without removing the
rawness of the village culture and etiquette , we have staff joined us as workers and now in
charge of food preparation department, housekeeping department , and local activity center
department and 4 staff members are women who are in charge of over all operations at the
center.
Tourists to Explore, Enrich, and Experience the true village culture, the tourists from urban areas
will travel to our destination, let me put across the time line of the events for your perusal

20 rooms, 2 dormitories, conference hall , 30 acres farm , veg meals ,